On this day in 2011, Brendan Rodgers’ Swansea City became the first Welsh team to play in the Premier League when they paid a visit to Manchester City at Etihad in the 2011-12 season opener. Swansea did play in England’s top flight league between 1981 to 1983, but no club, outside England, had reached the Premier League since its formation in 1992.

Having finished third in the Championship prior to the 2011-12 season, Swansea defeated Nottingham Forest in the semi-final of the Championship playoffs, before getting the better of Reading by four goals to two in the final at Wembley, with Scott Sinclair scoring a hattrick. Ahead of their first Premier League campaign, Swansea signed striker Danny Graham from Watford for the club’s then record fee £3.5 million.

Their opening game was a complete disaster as they were scheduled to play one of the title challengers, Manchester City. They somehow managed to keep the scoreline intact at 0-0 until half-time, but soon after the restart, Cityzens showed their domination, with goals from Edin Džeko, Sergio Agüero and David Silva handing City a 4-0 win.

Chelsea’s new era under Maurizio Sarri was off to a flying start as they beat Huddersfield Town 3-0 in their first game of the 2018-19 edition of the Premier League, at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday.

Bill Shankly, regarded as the greatest manager in the history of Liverpool Football Club and one of the greatest managers in the history of the game stepped down as manager of his beloved club on 12th July, 1974. The reason for him stepping down was that years of football had taken a toll on him and he had grown tired of the game.

After winning the 1974 FA Cup final which Liverpool won, Shankly decided that it was time to step down. He wrote in his autobiography that he, “felt tired from all the years.” Shankly’s granddaughter confirmed the notion in 2009 writing for The Observer, stating that, “I think that perhaps it was tiredness, that football had taken its toll on him.”

Known for his voluminous body arts, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is unarguably one of the classiest players to have ever graced a footballing field. While his antics on the field need no introduction, his off the field frolics gets attention involuntarily. Since his Ajax days, he has been prolifically known for his astounding skills and ruthless aggression.

Besides all this, the 35-year-old has been in limelight for his comprehensive tattoos and even in his book ‘I am Zlatan’, he has confessed that tattoos became like a ‘Drug’ to him. In the same book, he quoted that even though tattoos drove him away initially, he became tempted away eventually. “I was against them in the beginning. Thought they were in bad taste. But I got tempted anyway.”

Zinedine Zidane announced his shock departure from Real Madrid Football Club on Thursday. The Frenchman, who won three back to back Champions League titles with Real, called an urgent press conference in the Spanish capital on Thursday and announced his decision.

There is some romantic connection between No.7 jersey and football. Some of the top footballers in the world have donned No.7 jerseys in football and since then the number has become famous in mostly every sport.

If football is a religion, then money is a very important part of it in today’s time. Each week, millions of dollars change hands between clubs and players, fans and ticket offices, and sponsors and clubs. And money has taken over football in today’s time. Look at the squads of some teams which have every possible superstar in their squad. English Premier League is the most watched league in the world and the latest figure released show five out of 10 clubs have the most expensive squads in today’s time.

Great achievements to rare records and sheer coincidence. Some amazing records that will blow your mind. Football is, without doubt, the most followed sport in the world. Let us look at some of the mindblowing football facts.

Chelsea’s season hit a new low when they crashed to a 4-1 defeat at Watford that heaped more pressure on boss Antonio Conte. The Blues are 19 points behind Manchester City and are fourth on the points table. Let’s have a look at the reason for Chelsea’s collapse

Manchester United has a very slim chance of catching Manchester City on top of the table this time around but Jose Mourinho will be hoping that next season Red Devils finally win the title which they last won in 2012-2013.